The Sovereignty Of God Is Unlimited

But I will hope continually,

and will praise You

Yet more and more.

My mouth shall tell 

of Your righteousness

and Your salvation

all the day, 

for I do not know 

their limits.

I will go in the strength 

of the Lord God;

I will make mention

Of Your righteousness,

Of Yours only.

Psalm 71:14-16

     The discussion on the Sovereignty of God leads to the Providence of God. As is most necessary, the definition of the word Providence is to be able to gain an understanding of this doctrine as is any doctrine most necessary, so I will supply the definition from the dictionary and as is elucidated by Scripture. The word is often capitalized and carries the meaning of divine guidance or care; and, God conceived as the power sustaining and guiding human destiny (Online Miriam Webster Dictionary).  I would be easy to make quick conclusions that if God is Sovereign then he is also Provident. If this be true then, God's works of providence are His most holy, wise, and powerful preserving and governing action towards all His creation. Therefore, Providence includes the preservation of His creation and also His right to govern His creation. This doctrine is clearly taught in Scripture. God does sustain all things by His Word of power: "who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged out sins, sat down at the right of the Majesty on high" (Hebrews 1:3). Paul in writing to the Colossians: "And He is before all things, and in Him all this consist" (Colossians 1:17). When Nehemiah during a fast, confessing and reading from the Book of Law cried out with a loud voice: "You alone are the LORD; You have made heaven, the heaven of heaven, with all their host, the earth and everything on it. the seas and all that is in them, and You preserve them all. The host of heaven worships You" (Nehemiah 9:6). While some Scriptures will hold to the above presentation others will refer to the regular operations or powers of nature. These they declare are preserved in their efficiency by the power of God. These Scriptures are found in the Psalms 104; 148. Some Scriptues refer to that which relate to irrational animals. Finally, there are those Scriptures that relate to rational creatures, who are said to move, live, and have their being in God. This the Scriptures clearly and plainly teach: (1) The universe does not as a whole continue in being of itself. It it did it would cease to exist. (2) That all creatures, plants, animals, in all their separate genera, do not exist by that which is life of itself, but by the will of God. (3) That this preservation is contained in more than substance, it is what the form and what the essence is to that creation, and also to the qualities, properties of all created things. 


     This doctrine is so plainly elucidated and illuminated in Scripture that it is not denied by the religious nature of man, especially among Christians. But, there is a question among others that demand an answer: it is to the nature of the divine efficiency to which the continued existence of all things is to be referred. There are several different opinions and they must by the ncessity for truth by answered. Therefore, this is what is to be the content of the next blog.


Watch therefore,

     for you know

neither the day or hour

     in which the Son of Man

is coming.

                           Matthew 25:13

Be Awake Today

 

Richard L. Crumb